[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 54 (Thursday, March 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                OUR FAILED WELFARE POLICIES OF THE PAST

  (Mr. HOKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HOKE. Mr. Speaker, the current welfare system is the $600 toilet 
seat of social policy. In fact, it is worse. At least after spending 
$600 on the proverbial toilet seat, we actually got one that did what 
it was supposed to do. You cannot say that about welfare.
  We spend and we spend and we spend. Yet the problems we set out to 
solve 30 years ago have only gotten worse and worse and worse.
  Illegitimacy and teen pregnancy have exploded, leaving in their wake 
drug abuse and crime. Family breakdown is a national crisis. Moral 
confusion and antisocial behavior is rampant.
  Welfare has failed children more than anyone. Children on welfare do 
worse in school. They tend to have other developmental problems. They 
are three times more likely to end up on welfare themselves.
  What a perverse and cruel form of compassion that encourages children 
to have children, and then condemns them to a dead end cycle of 
government dependency.
  We could not consciously design a system that is more cruel to 
children which is what makes the liberals' defense of this current 
system all the more perplexing.
  Hell hath no fury like a special interest masquerading as a moral 
principle.


                          ____________________